next phase delivery -

      Well,  the news was not what I expected. 

Pearl 5 Months old

      We are grateful for what we have, and may the delivery be safe for momma and pup.  Mother Nature has her way, and reason for all things.  I feel I did what I could to ensure pregnancy, but there are things out of my reach and control. For this I am grateful for too. To think if this were the situation two years ago, with the Pleiadies litter - the litter of Willow Sunshine.  The importance of that litter, to me, is/was immeasurable.  The importance of this litter is too, but in a different way.  I wish all those on my puppy list find the soul dog with whom they were hoping to connect.  He or she is there waiting for you.

Nash 12 years old

   Next phase - a safe delivery for Pearl and her little one - or perhaps ones in case someone is hiding:)

Willow Sunshine 1 1/2 years old

  I have never had this experience before. I will  prepared as best I can, and try to conceal my rattled nerves from Pearl, so she can let nature take its course.  Pearl is exceptional at sizing up a situation, adjusting, moving on, and going with what life sends her way. 

Turkey's Visit

Nash's Grandparents

     I came across this photo the other day of Theia and Magnum (Nash's Grandparents thru Willow, his mother).  Seems like yesterday, they look so young in this photo.  Two very special dogs - This is where it all began for me.  It was from their first litter where where Willow came from.

 Theia

  (CH Highlands Honey Dipper x Winterset Golden Seas) 

and 

Magnum 

(Huntsdown Whistling Dixie x CH Guelphline Black Genie)

Willow  

(March 2009 - 12 1/2 years old)

Theia

Willow n Nash

(August 2002, Willow 6 yrs old, Nash 2 yrs old)

Happy 2nd Birthday

Happy Birthday to the Seven Sister's (The Pleiades) and the two brother's Myles and Damon. 2 years old today:) Seems like yesterday! All 9 puppies are in this photo, and I think that white bear went home with Damon. May Pearl have a similar litter, they have all turned out to be wonderful dogs.

Party Time with Willow Sunshine, Zoe, Nash, Pearl

Agility advanced beginner

Ghost Reinactment

OK - So,  we're (Nash, Pearl, Willow Sunshine and I) at agway buying dog food. The dogs are waiting in the car, driver side window is rolled half way down.  I come out of the store to find a ghost dog sitting in the driver's seat, looking out the rolled down window.  She's perfectly still, doesn't even flinch when I approach the car.  I nearly pee'd my pants laughing so hard, any pedestrian would have thought I lost my mind.  I couldn't stop laughing, and the entire time Willow Sunshine sat there, in the driver seat, totally motionless, with a sheet over her head!  It was hysterical. The sheet was wet on the tip of her nose, from her breathing.  This only accentuated the hilarity of the scene. 

Willow Sunshine will often dig and muster the sheet I have covering the driver seat.  She curls up underneath it - pretty smart I think. A good way to stay warm when it's cold.

I couldn't get a photo at the time, so I reinacted the picture this morning.  It isn't exact, but gives the right impression.  The sheet was tighter over her head at the store, accentuating her dogginess.

What the heck was she thinking?  "Oh, I just sit here, Mary will be back soon. hum-dedum-dedum..."  I wonder if anyone saw her that way. 

Breeding: New Blog link

Nash and Pearl Breeding Commenced

Follow on the new blog. 

LINK: http://cacchaslabradors2013breeding.blogspot.com/ 

ALSO: you can get to it by

Clicking on the new tab "2013 Breeding" (next to HOME  Tab)
and this page
will display the link to the new blog. 

(Scroll down to see more photos)

Nash at 5 years old in Maine - Sunbathing

 Willow Sunshine, Nash, Pearl - Maine 8/2013

 Nash 8/2013

Nash - 2002 

 Pearl 2013

 

Pearl with Nash 2013

Cleo's October Visit - Pictures and Video

     Cleo is with us, she came last Thursday and will go home tomorrow. 

She's turned out to be a beautiful girl!  They all have, but I'm bias.

     It's fun to see each puppy, now dog, quickly revert to their position in the litter, and how they play with my dogs.  It is a joy to watch them interact with Pearl, their mother, and Willow Sunshine, their sister.  The girls were even teasing Nash this morning, who has learned to enjoy their bouncing antics. 
     At first Cleo was giddy and groveled in front of Pearl, who diverts such behavior with a spin around the yard.  The sister's greet play differently.  Depending on which girl, play will focus on wrestling, jousting, tug, or chase.  Willow Sunshine and Cleo like to joust, stalk, and chase.  Cleo is a stocky build compared to Sunshine's moderate, slight build. 
      Willow Sunshine, first born, and Cleo, second born, are the two I considered.  Once the eyes opened, at two weeks old, it was clear, hands down.  I look at Cleo and wonder what it would have been like if she were my dog. Physically she is strikingly similar to her great grandmother, Theia!  In some ways similar to Willow.  Cleo is the only pup to display these genes, this makes her visits that much more special. 
     It is an eerie sensation to look into Cleo's eyes, big and brown.  She looks right at you.  Cleo's essence, however, is completely different than Willow Sunshine's. As I look into Willow Sunshine's eyes I know we've been together before.  I know we are are bound past, present, and future.  When I hold her in my arms, and look into her eyes, I see love eternally.  

A few photos of Cleo

Look who broke her stay, miss Canine Good Citizen!

VIDEO

 

Congratulations Willow Sunshine - CGC

Willow Sunshine earned her Canine Good Citizen (CGC) today!  

22 months old, with no prep class, never before visited training center, strange people, strange smells, and no adjustment time before test...

We drove to Brattleboro, VT, as it was held at Yankee Dog thru the Pioneer Valley Kennel Club.

Nice facility and wonderful people.  We arrived late due to bumper to bumper traffic in downtown Brattleboro, and I wasn't able to locate the place. I wanted to get there an hour, at least, before our test time. Instead we arrive five minutes before we had to go!  Both our nerves were shot, and I nearly dropped out of the test.  To put the little girl through the test without a chance to accimate seemed unfair. We were encouraged to stay, and near the end felt better.  Willow Sunshine handled herself very well - I am so proud of her!

CONGRATULATIONS:  First Title

 (Compliments of the Pioneer Valley Kennel Club)

MAINE BOUND Photos on Photobucket

Try these links to view photos and from our trip in August.
A work in progress - uncut-unedited version.

8/25/2013
Drive up

http://s1022.photobucket.com/user/cacchaslabradors9/library/2013%20Roll%2056%20August%2025th%20Maine%20Bound?sort=3&page=1#

8/26 - Monday
Morning, First Day
 http://s1022.photobucket.com/user/cacchaslabradors9/library/2013%20Roll%2057%20August%2026th%20Morning%20First%20Day?sort=3&page=1

8/26 - Monday

First Day (Film) 

Some of Willow Sunshine from New Hampshire

http://s1022.photobucket.com/user/cacchaslabradors9/library/2013%20Roll%2057%20Film%20July%20to%20August%2026th%20First%20day?sort=3&page=1

 

 8/26 - Monday

Mid Day - Porch Time, Point Walk
http://s1022.photobucket.com/user/cacchaslabradors9/library/2013%20Roll%2057%20Film%20July%20to%20August%2026th%20First%20day/2013%20Roll%2058%20August%2026th%20Mid%20day?sort=3&page=1

8/26 - Monday
 Evening - Sunset, Point Walk
http://s1022.photobucket.com/user/cacchaslabradors9/library/2013%20Roll%2059%20August%2026th%20Sunset?sort=3&page=1

8/27 - Tuesday
Morning Sunrise
 http://s1022.photobucket.com/user/cacchaslabradors9/library/2013%20Roll%2059%20August%2026th%20Sunset/2013%20Roll%2060%20August%2027th%20SunriseTUESDAY?sort=3&page=1

8/27 - Tuesday

Mid Day - Porch Time!

http://s1022.photobucket.com/user/cacchaslabradors9/library/2013%20Roll%2061%20August%2027th%20Mid%20day%20TUESDAY?sort=3&page=1 

8/27 - Tuesday

Mid Day - Porch Time (Film)

http://s1022.photobucket.com/user/cacchaslabradors9/library/2013%20Roll%2061%20August%2027th%20Mid%20day%20TUESDAY/2013%20Roll%2060%20August%2027th%20SunriseTUESDAY/2013%20Roll%2062%20Film%20August%2027th%20Day%202%20Mid%20Day?sort=3&page=1 

8/28  Wednesday
Morning Fog - Point Walk
http://s1022.photobucket.com/user/cacchaslabradors9/library/2013%20Roll%2061%20August%2027th%20Mid%20day%20TUESDAY/2013%20Roll%2060%20August%2027th%20SunriseTUESDAY/2013%20Roll%2062%20Film%20August%2027th%20Day%202%20Mid%20Day/2013%20Roll%2062%20August%2027th%20Sunset%20evening%20TUESDAY/2013%20Roll%2063%20August%2028th%20Sunrise%20Morning%20WEDNESDAY?sort=3&page=1

 8/28 - Wednesday
Mid Day - Fog lifted - Lobster Feed
Pearl + Willow Sunshine's first lobster
http://s1022.photobucket.com/user/cacchaslabradors9/library/2013%20Roll%2064%20August%2028th%20Mid%20day%20WS%201st%20Lobster?sort=3&page=1

That is it for now. 

Skatutakee Hike - September 22, 2013, Roll #78 album

Rain fell during the early morning. The hour was five thirty. We were still in bed. It was time for our morning digestive nap after breakfast. By ten thirty we were heading up the mountain. The weather was delightful, crisp air and clear skies. The rain ceased and a beautiful fall day ensued. A slow easy pace eventually us to the top. Nash's arthritic toes were acting up, so we stopped along the way to take photos and the girls hunted chipmunks.

We found only ourselves at the top, among the Monadock's, blueberry bushes, pines, granite boulders and the expansive ocean blue sky. The top of a mountain, I have decided, is much like sitting sea side on a timeless porch in Maine. 

Wet earth from the morning rain didn't deter us from taking a top side siesta. Time was lost. While I watched the dogs scurry as investigative specialist, devoured new smells. My nap interrupted periodically by Willow Sunshine's gleaming exuberance of tongue kisses, ear nibbling, and pouncing. Pearl's main attraction was a blueberry bush which contained a stow away treat. She hovered from bush to shrub looking for left over peanut butter pine cones from the following winter, in addition to rodent holes. Nash circled the top testing the shade under select bushes, eventually he decided to dig a nest under a cedar shrub, and blueberry bush. His coat delightfully sweet when he crawled out for our downward hike.

Up the mountain, down the mountain. That is the way it went with our easy steady pace. No hurries today. Pleasantly surprised to see half the day remained once at the bottom. Home in time for lunch, just past the one o'clock hour.